Cotton-press.



' Patented Feb. 20, |900.

H. L. WHITMAN.

COTTON PRESS.

(Application led Sept. 23, 1899.)

(No Model.)

4 Sheets-Sheet l.

mummr L Mz@ N0. 643,995. Patented Feb. 20, |900.

H. L. WHITMAN.

CTTN PRESS.

(Applcntun led Sept. 23, 1899.)

4 Sheets-Sheet 2 (No Model.)

No. 643,995. l Patented Feb. 2o, |909. H. L. WHITMAN.

COTTON PRESS.

l L i (Applicheion med sept. 29, 1899.)

(No Model.) 4 Sheets-'Sheet 3.

lil f 62 u 1-22de irv;

Patented Feb. 2o, |900.

4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

H.- L. WHITMAN. COTTON PRESS. (Application filed Sept, 23, 1899.)

(No Model.)

- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE@ HENRYL. WHITMAN, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

COTTON-PRESS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 643,995, dated February 20, 1900.

Application filed September 23, 1899, Serial No. 731,403. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY L. WHITMAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at the city of St. Louis, in the State of Missouri, have invented certain neviT and useful Improvements in Cotton-Presses, of which the following is a full, clear, and eXact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification.

For the economical baling of cotton at the present day it is necessary to produce a bale of sufficient density in the original operation without subsequently subjecting the bale to the compress, also to make up the bale of a continuous web, and to perform the operation continuously both as to the feeding from the gins and the formation, tying, and delivering of the finished bales. Cylindrical baling has been resorted to as embodying some of these advantages; but this form of bale is objectionable owing to the loss of space and danger from tire resulting from the air-spaces between the bales which it occasions in shipping and storing and because of ill effects which the process has upon the liber. It has been proposed to make rectangular bales of a continuous web; but it has heretofore been impracticable to carry this out in continuous operation in a single press.

The object of my invention is to provide a single apparatus that will receive cotton from a plurality of gins Withoutinterruption, form the cotton into a continuous web or bat, feed the web or bat continuously into a single cotton-box ofacontinuously-operatingpress,and compress the material thus introduced and move it continuously forward to the dischargepoint Without interruption, all these steps being performed Without injury to the fiber.

My invention consists in the features above mentioned and in the details of construction of the various parts of the press, as hereinafter described and claimed.

Figure I is a side elevation of my improved press. Fig. II is a side elevation of one of the boxes in which the web-pressing-roller shafts are mounted, the said shafts being shown in cross-section. Fig. III is an elevation of one end of two of the web-pressing rollers and the driving-Wheels carried thereby.A Fig. IV is a side elevation of one of the bearing-boxes in which the webpressingroller shafts are mounted, the joining pinions on two of said shafts, and the pinions of the shafts by which the endless feeding-carriers are driven. Fig. V is a cross-sectional view through the web-pressing rollers, fragments of the endless feeding-carriers at the lower end of the feed-hopper, and the chute arranged between said carriers and rollers. Fig. VI is an enlarged detail View of a portion of one of the feeding-carriers. Fig. VII is a view, partly in section, taken on line VII VII, Fig. I and showing one of the feeding-carriers in elevation. Fig. VIII is a horizontal sectional view taken on line VIII VIII, Fig. IX. Fig. IX is a vertical sectional view taken through the baling-chamber, the traverser, and the Web-pressin g rollers, the bale-division-boardsupporting device being shown in elevation. Fig. X is a perspective view of the bale-division-board-supporting device. Fig. XI is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line XI XI, Fig. X. Fig. XII is an enlarged sectional view taken on line XII XII, Fig. X. Fig. XIII is a sectional View taken on line XIII XIII, Fig. IX.

1 designates the baling-box, the general form and construction of which may be whateveris suitable to receive the reciprocating traverser 2, as no invention is herein claimed, perse, for a baling-box. The traverser 2 is connected to a pitman 3, that in turn is suitably connected to a shaft 4E, driven from a shaft 5, equipped with a drive-pulley 6. I have not attempted to show in detail the mechanism for moving the traverser, as various forms of mechanism may be used for this purpose. A form of mechanism well adapted 'for the purpose is set forth in Patent No. 363,269, issued vto Charles E. IVhitman May 17, 1887. ing-box is to be provided with the usual form of retainers. l

On the shaft@c is a gear-wheel 7, that meshes with a gear-wheel on a shaft 8, that carries a drive-wheel i), which receives the travel 0f an endless drive-chain 10. The drive-chain 10 passes beneath an idler 11 to a second drivewheel 12 on a shaft 13. The shaft 13 carries a pressing-roller 14E.

15 designates journal-box frames in which the shaft 13 is mounted, the said shaft being The bal- IOO backed by a lnovable bearing16, yieldingly held by a spring 17, the tension of which is controlled by a set-screw 18.

19 designates the shaft of a pressing-roller 20, occupying the same horizontal plane as the roller '14. On the shaft 13 is a pinion 21, that meshes with acorresponding pinion (not shown) on the shaft 19, through means of which motion from the shaft 13 is communicated to the shaft 19, whereby the rollers 14 and 20 are caused to travel toward each other. The shaft 13 being backed by the spring 17 is permitted to move away from the shaft 19 when abnormal pressure is created between the rollers 14 and 20 by an excess of' lnaterial passing between said rollers in the manner hereinafter explained. The pressing-rollers being located over the opening of the feed-box permits the web or bat to pass to the feed-opening by gravity, and it folds itself each time the plunger recedes without the aid of mechanical means for producing the folds.

On the shaft 19 is a drive-wheel 22, the purpose of which will be hereinafter stated. At the opposite end of the shaft 19 is a spurwheel 23, that meshes with a spur-wheel 24, mounted upon an upper shaft 25, equipped with a pressing-roller 26. The opposite end of the shaft 25 from that upon which the spurwheel is mounted is equipped with a spurwheel 27, (see Figs. 1 and 111,) that meshes with a spur-wheel 28 on a shaft 29, equipped with a pressing-roller 30. The shaft 29 is backed by a bearing 31, yieldingly held by a spring 32, similar to that by which the shaft 13 is held, the tension of said spring being regulated by an adjustment-screw 33. From the foregoing it will be seen that the shafts are arranged in upper and lower pairs and that the shaft 19 is driven from the shaft 13, the rollers on said shafts turning toward each other. The shaft 19 drives the shaft 25,which in turn drives the shaft 29, thereby causing the upper pair of rollers 26 and 30 to turn toward each other similarly to the lower pair 14 and 20.

34 designates a chute leading to the upper pair of pressing-rollers 26 and 30.

35 designates a framework on which a hopper 36 is mounted,said hopperbeingsustained at its upper end by stays 37.

38 designates an-endless drive-chain that travels on the drive-wheel 22, carried by the shaft 19, and the drive-wheel 39, mounted on a shaft 40, for transmitting power from the shaft 19 to the shaft 40 and actuating the cotton-feed in the hopper. The drive-chain 38 is held taut by an idler 41.

The hopper 36 is composed of two sides 36, connected by cross-bars 36", (see Fig. 1,) and two sides 42, arranged interior of the crossbars 36h, sustained at their lower ends by bracket-arms 43. (See Fig. V11.) The upper end of the chute 34 is connected to the lower end of the hopper sides 42 by straps 44. (See Fig. V11.) On the shaft 40, at the opposite end from that which carries the drive-wheel 39, is a spur-Wheel 45. rlhe spur-Wheel 45 engages a spur-Wheel 46 (see Fig. IV) on a shaft 47, arranged parallel to the shaft 40. The shafts 40 and 47 are mounted in hearings supported by the framework 35. The shaft 40 carries a roller 40a, and the shaft 47 carries a roller 471. (See Fig. V.) On the shafts 40 and 47 are chain-wheels 48, (see Figs. 1 and VIL) that receive endless drive-chains 49, which extend to the upper end of the hopper 36 and over drive-wheels 50, mounted at the upper end of the hopper on shafts 5l. The drive-chains 38 have connected thereto slats 52, (see Fig. VI,) and secured to these slats are endless aprons 53, that travel with the chains, the aprons traveling on the rollers 40 and 47a and similar rollers carried by thc shafts 51.

54 designates a support movably mounted on top of the traverser 2 and connected to said traverser by keepers 55, which engage the lower intnrned edges 56 of the support, (see Fig. XIIL) while permitting a sliding movement of said support on the traverser. The support 54 is box-shaped in form, is open at its rear end, and is constructed with a forward tapering end 57.

58 are bars secured to the traverser at it rear upper end and provided with upturned outer ends 59, that receive slide-rods 60, the opposite ends of which are mounted in ears 6l on cross-bars 62, carried by the support 54.

The object in making the support 54 movable with relation to the plunger is to provide a stationary rest for the bat during the period when the plunger is making the last part of its forward stroke, is com pressing the cotton, and is making the first part of its rearward stroke.

63 is astrengthening-bar that joins the side Walls of the support 54 at its rear end. The support is adapted to travel with the traverser 2 in its forward movement, being held in normal position by springs 64 on the slide-rods 60, bearing against the upturned ends 59 of the bars 58 and against the ears 61 of the cross-bars 62. 1n the forward stroke of the traverser 2 the support 54 is carried therewith, as indicated by dotted lines, Fig. IX. Each forward stroke of the traverser results in the compression of the web of cotton fed into the baling-cha-mber from the compression-rollers 14, 20, 26, and 30, as indicated by dotted lines, Fig. 1X. The web of cotton descends into the billing-chamber from the pressing-rollers in aloop, as seen by the dotted lines, Fig. IX, and as the traverser is carried thereagainst in its forward stroke it presses against the said loop, which is carried therewith and compressed into continuous unbroken folds extending vertically throughout the formed bale. Before, however, the traverser reaches the extent of its forward stroke the corresponding movement of t-he support 54 is arrested by spring-catches 65, that engage in recesses 66 in tho side walls of the IOO IIO

press-box, thereby limitingthe movement of said support. When the support reaches the end of its stroke, it impinges against the Web of cotton descending in the paling-chamber, and the incoming web is held or supported on the tapering forward end 57 of the support until the backward stroke of the traverser occurs, when return movement is imparted to the support and spring catches 65 are withdrawn. As the traverser moves backward theweb of cotton falls 'from the forward end of the support into the baliug-chamber and continues to be fed from the pressingrollers into a loop, as before, to be taken up and compressed on the next succeeding forward stroke of the traverser.

It will be observed from Fig. IX that by the construction of the plunger a space is left between its upper side and the top of the cotton-box, as well as between said portion of the cotton-box and the point at which the support 54 is arrested, and thus provides a passage for the bat, so that it can continue back past the pressing-point, and severance of the bat will be prevented.

67 designates plates carried by the journalbox frames 15. On these plates 67 are guides GS, forming guideways 69, that receive a division-board 70, (see dotted lines, Figs. IX and X,) by which the individual bales of cotton are separated as formed.. The divisionboard 70 is normally supported above the baling-chamber in the position indicated until such time as the formation of a bale has been completed, when it is automatically dropped, as will presently appear.

7l designates slides of angle shape in crosssection which rest upon the inturned lower edges of the plates 67 (see Fig. X) aud slide beneath a heel 7 2, projecting from one of the guides 68. The inner end of the slide 7l is arranged to be projected across the guideways 69 between the guides 68, Where it forms a support for the division-board 70.

7 3 designates springs pivoted to the plates 67 at 74. One end of each of these springs bears against the adjacent guide 68, while the opposite end bears against a stud 71a, carried by the slide 7l, thereby providing for the ac- -tion of the spring against said slide to hold it normally projected inwardly, so as to retain the inner end in position to support the division-board 70.

75 designates a cross-rod that connects the slides at the opposite sides of the press. The rod 75 is pivotally seated in the vertical anges of the slides 71 and carries hooks 76. When suicien't cotton has been fed into the press and compressed therein to form a bale, the operator drops the hooks 76 from a raised position to that seen in full lines, Fig. IX, and on the next succeeding backward stroke of the traverser the said hooks are struck by the rear end of the support 54 and moved outwardly or rearwardly, thereby effecting a pull upon the slides 7l, resulting in the inner end of Said slide being Withdrawn from the lower end of the guideway 69 to permit the divisionboard 70 to descend into the baling-chamber, in which it is carried forward against the end of the bale previously formed on t-he next succeeding forward stroke of the traverser.

In order to prevent damage to the press-box by the division-board and sustain the latter in vertical position in its fall into the chamber, I have provided a pair of spring-controlled arms 77, (see Fig. VIIL) pivoted at 7 S to the press-box and having their free ends extending into the baling-chamber through openings in the side of the box. These arms are backed by springs 79 and are provided with curving upper edges that receive the impact of the division-board as it falls into the baling-charnber. The division-board strikes against the said arms, forcing them outwardly against the action of the springs 79, and descends slowly to the bottom of the balingchamber, against which it rests in an upright position, being held by the said arms until such time as the traverser strikes it and carries it forward against the bale previously produced.

From the foregoing description it will be observed that the bales are tied during the movement of the condensed cotton toward the discharge end of the press, the bale thus formed in front making the press-head for the succeedin g bale, and the bales are delivered in continuous process. I am therefore enabled for the first time to do away with interruption in the feed from the gins, or an interruption in the formation of the continuous web or bat between the feed-rollers, or in the reciprocation of the plunger, and the operation, therefore, while confined to a single press, is strictly continuous. I therefore term the apparatus a continuous press. The cotton is in the desired condition, the form of the bale meets all requirements, and the fiber is uninjured by any part of the process.

It will be understood that the bale is tied in the well-known manner followed in baling hay-that is to say, division-boards are inserted at suitable intervals, baling-wires are passed through. the grooves in the boards and through thc openings in the side walls of the press, and the ends tied before the bale has expanded.

I claim-- l. A continuous cotton-press comprising a press-box, means for delivering a continuous and unbroken web into said box, and a plunger of less dimension than the press-box, so as to form a space between it and the wall of the box to receive the web, whereby it presses said web in folds Without breaking its continuity.

2. A continuous cotton-press comprising a press-box, means for continuously feeding an unbroken web into said press-box, and aplun'- ger pressing said contin nous web in folds, said plunger being of less dimension than the pressbox so as to form a space between it and one wall of the press-box to permit the web to con- ICO IIO

IZO

tinue past it back from the pressing-point during compression.

3. In a continuous cotton-press, the combination of means for continuously feeding an unbroken web, a press-box having its feedopening located beneath the web feeding means, a plunger pressing the web in folds and constructed with its vertical dimension less than that of the press-box so as to leave a space between its upper side and the top of the press-box to permit the web to continue past it back from the pressing-point during compression, and a support mounted' on the plunger for that portion of the web accu mulating during compression.

4. In a continuous press, the combination of a press-box, web-pressing rollers above the box feeding a continuous unbroken web into the opening of the box by gravity, a plunger pressing the web into continuous connected folds and constructed with its vertical dimension less than that of the press-box so as to leave a space between it and one wall of the box, topermit the web to continue past it back from the pressing-point, to avoid breaking the web, and a receding support for the web carried by the plunger and brought beneath the web-pressin g rollers while the plunger is pressing.

5. In a cotton-press, the combination of means for forming a continuous web, and a continuously-operating plunger-press into which the web is delivered, said press and its plunger being constructed so as to leave a space between one edge of the plunger and the corresponding wall of the press-box from the pressing-point to the feed-opening, to receive the cotton web and prevent severance thereof during pressing.

6. In a cotton-press, the combination of a baling-box, a traverser arranged to operate therein, means for operating said traverser, means for pressing the cotton to be baled into a web, and a web-support carried by said traverser, substantially as described.

7. In a cotton-press, the combination of a baling-box, a traverser arranged to operate therein, means for operating said traverser, means for pressing the cotton to be baled into a web, and a slidable web-support carried by said traverser, substantially as described.

8. In a cotton-press, the combination of a baling-box, a traverser arranged to operate therein, means for operating said traverser, and a slidable spring-controlled web-support mounted on said traverser, substantially as described.

9. In a cotton-press, the combination of a balingbox, a reciprocating traverser arranged to operate therein, means for operating said traverser, a slidable web-support mounted on said traverser, and catches carried by said support arranged to arrest the forward movement thereof, substantially as described.

10. In a cotton-press, the combination of a baling box, a reciprocating traverser arranged to operate therein, means for operating said traverser, a slidable web-support mounted on said traverser, catches carried by said support arranged to limit the forward movement thereof, and springs arranged to hold said support forwardly, substantially as described.

11. In a cotton-press, the combination of a baling-box, a traverser arranged to operate therein, means for operating said traverser, and a slidable web-support mounted on said traverser and having an inclined end, sub'- stantially as described.

12. In a cotton-press, the combination of a baling-box, a traverser arranged to operate therein, means for operating said traverser, pressing-rollers for forming the cotton to be baled into a web, a slidable web-support mounted on said traverser and having a forward inclined end, and. means for arresting the forward movement of said support, substantially as described.

13. In a cotton-press, the combination of a balingbox, a reciprocating traverser arranged to operate therein, means for operating said traverser, pressing-rollers, a slidable web-support mounted on said traverser, sliderods by which said support is connected to said traverser, and springs arranged on said slide-rods, substantially as described.

14. In a cotton-press, the combination of a baling-box, a plate mounted thereon, guides on said plate, a slide arranged to operate on said plate and to support a division-board between said guides, a spring secured to said plate and bearing against said slide, a traverser, and pivoted hooks carried by said slide arranged to be engaged by said traverser for the purpose of moving said slide, substantially as described.

15. In a cotton-press, the combination of a baling-box, a traverser to operate therein, means for operating the traverser, means for pressing the cotton to be baled into a bat or web, and a movable support for arresting the movement of the web into the baling-box while the traverser is making the last part of its forward and the rst part of its rearward movement.

16. A continuous cotton-press comprisinga press-box having a feed-opening and a plunger, continuously operating web pressing rollers delivering into said feed-opening a continuous unbroken web, the relation between the transverse dimension of the plunger and the corresponding dimension of the press-box being such as to leave a web-passage from the point of pressing to the feedopening, whereby the plunger may press said web into folds without breaking its continuity. f

17. Acontinuouscotton-press,comprisinga press-box having a feed-opening, means for forming the cotton into a continuous and unbroken web or bat, and which is located over the feed-opening of the press-box so as to de- IIO liver the bat by gravity into said feed-opening in an unbroken condition, and a plunger located in and of less vertical dimension than the interior of said press-box and acting to press said bat into folds without breaking its continuity.

18. A continuously operating plunger-A press provided with a suitable feed-opening and having the Wall of the press-box on the side in which the feed-opening is formed, and between said feed-opening and the pressing-point, spaced apart from the plane of the 

